What Is the World Watch List? How Christian Persecution Is Measured — and the 2026 Top 50
Open Doors' annual ranking is the most-cited measure of Christian persecution in the world. Here is how it's scored, what the 2026 list shows, and how to use it to pray
The short answer
The World Watch List is Open Doors' annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Each country is scored out of 100: up to 16.7 points for the pressure Christians face in each of five spheres of life (private, family, community, national and church life) and up to 16.7 for violence. The 2026 list ranks North Korea first, followed by Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya and Iran. Open Doors reports more than 388 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination — about one in seven worldwide — and recorded 4,849 Christians killed, 4,712 detained and 3,632 churches and Christian properties attacked.
Almost every story we publish about the persecuted church cites the same source: Open Doors' World Watch List. It's the most widely quoted measure of Christian persecution in the world. Here's what it is, how it's built, what the 2026 edition shows — and how to use it well.
What the World Watch List Is
The World Watch List is Open Doors' annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Open Doors is a ministry that has served persecuted Christians for decades; the list is compiled by its research teams using data from experts on the ground in 100 countries.
"The World Watch List ranks the 50 hardest places to follow Jesus, scoring pressure in five spheres of life plus violence (each up to 16.7 of 100 points). In 2026: North Korea first, 388 million+ Christians facing high persecution, 4,849 killed — and a clear invitation to pray."
Click to copy and shareHow Persecution Is Scored
Each country receives a score out of 100, built from two kinds of measurement:
- Pressure — how much Christians are squeezed in five spheres of life: private life, family life, community life, national life and church life. Each sphere is worth up to 16.7 points.
- Violence — the number and severity of violent incidents against Christians and churches, also worth up to 16.7 points.
That design matters. A country can rank high with relatively little headline violence if Christians face intense pressure in daily life — losing jobs, being disowned, unable to gather or own a Bible. And a country can climb quickly when violence spikes, even if everyday pressure is lower. Reading a country's position well means asking which of the two is driving it.
The 2026 Headline Numbers
According to Open Doors' 2026 list:
- More than 388 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination — about 1 in 7 Christians worldwide.
- In the top 50 alone, more than 315 million face very high or extreme persecution.
- 1 in 5 Christians in Africa and 2 in 5 in Asia are persecuted.
- 4,849 Christians were killed for their faith, 4,712 detained, and 3,632 churches and Christian properties attacked.
Nigeria accounts for the largest share of Christians killed — a story we follow on our Christians in Nigeria page.
The 2026 Top 10 (With Scores)
- North Korea — 97
- Somalia — 94
- Yemen — 93
- Sudan — 92
- Eritrea — 90
- Syria — 90
- Nigeria — 89
- Pakistan — 87
- Libya — 87
- Iran — 87
The Full 2026 Top 50
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Yemen
- Sudan
- Eritrea
- Syria
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Libya
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- India
- Saudi Arabia
- Myanmar
- Mali
- Burkina Faso
- China
- Iraq
- Maldives
- Algeria
- Mauritania
- Central African Republic
- Morocco
- Cuba
- Uzbekistan
- Niger
- Tajikistan
- Laos
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Mexico
- Tunisia
- Nicaragua
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Turkmenistan
- Ethiopia
- Cameroon
- Oman
- Mozambique
- Kyrgyzstan
- Turkey
- Egypt
- Comoros
- Qatar
- Kazakhstan
- Nepal
- Colombia
- Chad
- Jordan
- Brunei
Behind the Numbers: Stories We've Reported
The list becomes real in the stories behind it. This month alone: a Christian on death row under Pakistan's blasphemy law (8th); churches bombed and burned in Myanmar (14th); Pastor Wang Yi still in prison in China (17th); a pastor jailed in Cuba for calling Christians to pray (24th); a pastor and his wife killed in Mexico (30th); and 24 Christians arrested at a Bible college in Nepal (46th). Our Christians in Asia page gathers the Asian stories in one place.
What the List Is — and Isn't
The World Watch List is a ministry's research, built on a consistent method applied every year, and it is the best-known tool of its kind. Like any index, it simplifies: a single number can't capture every region within a country, and countries outside the top 50 can still be dangerous places for Christians. It's best read alongside the country profiles Open Doors publishes and alongside on-the-ground reporting — which is why we always link our sources.
How to Use It to Pray
The list exists to move people from awareness to action. A few simple ways:
- Pray through the top 10 over ten days, one country a day.
- Adopt one country. Read its profile, follow its news, and pray for it by name every week.
- Pray for what persecuted believers ask for — usually not escape, but courage, faithfulness and that the church elsewhere wouldn't forget them. Our guide on how to pray for the persecuted church is built around those requests.
You'll find the full list, maps and country profiles on Open Doors' World Watch List page.
The World Watch List ranks the 50 hardest places to follow Jesus, scoring pressure in five spheres of life plus violence (each up to 16.7 of 100 points). In 2026: North Korea first, 388 million+ Christians facing high persecution, 4,849 killed — and a clear invitation to pray.
Biblical Perspective
Jesus told His followers plainly, "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15:20), and promised blessing to those persecuted because of righteousness (Matthew 5:10). Scripture calls the church to "remember those in prison as if you were together with them" (Hebrews 13:3) and reminds us that "if one part suffers, every part suffers with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26).
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it."
— 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NIV)
Pray With Us
Lord, thank You for the faithfulness of Your people in the hardest places on earth. We pray for North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya and Iran, and for every country on this list. Strengthen believers under pressure, comfort those who grieve, free those in prison and let the gospel advance. Make us faithful to remember them. In Jesus' name, amen.
Declarations to Speak
- ›The persecuted church is not forgotten!
- ›The gates of Hades will not overcome Christ's church!
- ›Every nation on this list will hear the gospel!
Take Action
- 1Pray through the top 10 over the next ten days, one country a day.
- 2Choose one country on the list to pray for by name every week.
- 3Read Open Doors' profile of the country you choose.
- 4Share this guide with your small group or church.
"What is the World Watch List, how is persecution measured, and which 50 countries are hardest for Christians in 2026? The full list and how to pray."
Pray & Speak Life Over This Story
Don't just read — respond in faith. Click below to declare that you have prayed over this story and spoken life into it. Our prayers and words have power to change the world.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." — Proverbs 18:21
Your Prayers & Words Have Power
Every time you pray over a story and speak life, you are partnering with Heaven to see God's Kingdom come on earth. When believers around the world agree in prayer, mountains move. Keep praying over these matters — your consistency in intercession is changing the world.
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." — James 5:16
Prayer Is Powerful — So Is Action.
You've prayed. Now take it further. Join or start an outreach group in your area and take the love of Jesus to the streets. Every act of love, every meal shared, every prayer prayed in person is the Kingdom advancing in your community.
"Faith without works is dead." — James 2:26
Questions people are asking
What is the World Watch List?
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The World Watch List is Open Doors' annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution, compiled from research with experts on the ground in 100 countries.
How is the World Watch List scored?
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Each country is scored out of 100: up to 16.7 points for pressure in each of five spheres of Christian life — private, family, community, national and church life — and up to 16.7 points for violence against Christians and churches.
Which country is number one on the 2026 World Watch List?
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North Korea ranks first on Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List with a score of 97, followed by Somalia (94), Yemen (93), Sudan (92), Eritrea (90), Syria (90), Nigeria (89), Pakistan (87), Libya (87) and Iran (87).
How many Christians are persecuted worldwide?
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According to Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List, more than 388 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination — about one in seven worldwide — including more than 315 million in the top 50 countries who face very high or extreme persecution.
How many Christians were killed for their faith in 2026?
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Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List recorded 4,849 Christians killed for their faith, 4,712 detained and 3,632 churches and Christian properties attacked during its reporting period.
Where does Mexico rank on the World Watch List?
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Mexico ranks 30th on Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List. Other Latin American countries on the list include Cuba (24th), Nicaragua (32nd) and Colombia (47th).
Sources & further reading
About the Author
Daniel Ziedins
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Ziedins is the founder and editor-in-chief of Thy Kingdom News. A passionate believer with a heart for revival, missions, and seeing God's Kingdom advance across the earth, Daniel created this platform to report on what God is doing in the nations — the stories the mainstream media won't tell. He is also the creator of LoveOnTheWorldMap.com, a global initiative to map acts of God's love worldwide. Daniel believes that every testimony, every revival report, and every prayer answered is evidence that the Kingdom of God is here and advancing.
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it."
1 Corinthians 12:26 (NIV)
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